I have heard someone say that Sunni's are Kafir because they do Takfir of Abu Taleb AS and this is on the basis that calling a Muslim a Kafir makes one a Kafir. How can I respond? | Ask A Question | Al-Islam.org

Takfir Sunni-Shi'a Abu Talib b. Abd al-Muttalib

I have heard someone say that Sunni's are Kafir because they do Takfir of Abu Taleb AS and this is on the basis that calling a Muslim a Kafir makes one a Kafir. How can I respond?

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Amina Inloes, Amina Inloes is originally from the US and has a PhD in Islamic Studies from the University of Exeter on Shi'a hadith. She is the program leader for the MA Islamic Studies program at the... Answer updated 4 years ago

This problem will not be solved by debating over the minutiae of whether "calling someone a kafir makes someone a kafir, so Sunnis are a kafir." Of course, you can discuss it, and it could be good to discuss it historically and religiously.

However, it is an excuse being put forward for a viewpoint, and if this excuse is disproved, another one will be presented.

The problem here is mindset, in particular,
(a) lack of understanding of the Prophetic message and how the Prophet (S) reached out to all people rather than excluding people to form an elite group,

(b) arrogance and egotism - thinking that one is part of the small, elite, saved group while everyone else is wrong floats one's ego, and is one of the subtler traps of Shaytan,

(c) a misunderstanding of the nature of Allah. Allah, as the creator of the universe, including the human being, is not so petty to kick people out of the ummah because of a handful of historical errors.

Sometimes also (d) some individiuals are benefitting from these ideologies, such as if they get followers or fans from spreading them and appealing to people's sense of clannishness.

To be fair there may also be (e) backlash against the Sunnis who call Shiis kafir and use that as an excuse for violence.

Surely we can understand that just as it is wrong for Sunnis to declare Shiis kafir, it is wrong to declare Sunnis kafir. We should treat others as we would like to be treated.

So basically these are the things that really need to addressed. A person who has humility before Allah and is not using their religious identity to bolster their own nafs or ego will not take it upon themself to decree masses of sincere people as kaafir.

Sometimes this takes time, such as years, and it won't happen in one or two sessions.

Sayyed Mohammad Al-Musawi, Sayyed Mohammad al-Musawi is originally from Iraq and heads up the World Ahlul Bayt Islamic League in London. Other than being involved in various humanitarian projects, he frequently responds to... Answered 4 years ago

1. Sunnis are Muslims like us and it is completely wrong to claim that they are Kafirs.

2. Sunni are following different sects e.g. Hanafi, Shafi'ee, Maliki, Hanbali, Salati, Wahabi, Sufi, Barelwi, Deobandi etc.

There are also many Sunni sub sects. All of them Muslims even those extreme groups who claim that Shia are Kafir. We believe that those who call us Kaafir are Muslims but misguided.

3. Abu Talib is a great believer in Islam and protector of the Prophet (SAWA) and this fact is been admitted by mass majority of Sunni scholars. Small minority among Sunni Muslims claim that Abu Talib was non Muslim because of the enmity against imam Ali (AS).

4. Many Sunni scholars have written books about Abu Talib and his great status in Islam e.g. Ahmad Zaini Dahlan the Imam of the Haram of Makkah.

Wassalam..